Lillie Vehling was in the right place at the right time when three young girls were struggling to stay afloat in Lake Washington during Seafair last Friday.Veh
Lillie Vehling was in the right place at the right time when three young girls struggled to stay afloat in Lake Washington during Seafair last Friday.
Vehling is in Seattle for a summer internship and was attending Seafair for the first time. While sitting in Genesee Park waiting for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show, Vehling noticed the three girls about 15 yards offshore.
"I was scanning the water after reading a page of my book, and I saw three kids just over the top of my book who were really struggling," she said.
They were screaming for help, and their heads were bobbing up and down, Vehling said. She immediately recognized the early signs of drowning. Vehling is a skilled water polo player at UC Davis and started her own swim lessons program after completing certified lifeguard training.
A drone photo of Stanley Sayres Park on Aug. 7, 2026. (KOMO)"I could see their faces from where I was sitting," Vehling continued. "And they needed help."
She ran into the water, kicking off her shoes and sunglasses. One by one, Vehling pulled each girl to shore.
By the time she went back into the water for the third girl, Vehling said the child was unconscious, barely floating and tangled in the rope of a small buoy.
"You could tell that she was desperately trying to grab it to save her own life," Vehling explained. "She wasn't responding to me at this point, and I knew I needed to get her out of the water as soon as possible."
Once on shore, people called 911, and Seattle Fire Department paramedics arrived to provide medical aid. One of the girls was taken to Seattle Children's Hospital in stable condition, Seafair organizers confirmed. KOMO News has reached out to the Seattle Fire Department to learn more about the conditions of all three girls.
Shortly after the rescue last Friday, Seafair President and CEO Emily Cantrell was briefed on what happened and went looking for Vehling.
Lillie Vehling was knighted as 'Lady Guardian of Lake Washington' during Seafair's 2026 gala. (Photo credit: Emily Cantrell, Seafair)"Immediately she [Cantrell] asked, 'Are you okay?' and 'Can I give you a hug?'" Vehling said of meeting Cantrell.
That hug turned into a lasting relationship between Vehling and Seafair staff and volunteers. Cantrell invited Vehling to attend the festival's gala that same night.
"We knighted her as 'Lady Guardian of Lake Washington,' and she immediately had admirals coming up to her," Cantrell said. "It was incredible having her at the right place at the right time. What she did was extraordinary."
Despite the heroic rescue and an official title as Seafair royalty, Vehling insists her instinct to help came naturally and is all she's ever known.
"To save three people, I didn't think twice about myself," she said. "I'm just glad everyone's safe."
One week later, Vehling hopes to get in contact with the families of the three girls she saved.
